Brisbane House Vacation Rental - Arena, Wisconsin

Kerri T.

The beautiful and historic Brisbane House was a wonderful place for our meeting and group overnight stay. The house is comfortable, nice amenities, beautiful art! The host is accommodating, communicative, and hospitable. The land is great to explore and enjoy. I look forward to going back for a stay where I can also enjoy the screen porch!

David A.

Brisbane House was a perfect spot for my wife and I to spend a magical few days with some dear friends. The meticulously restored house reflects a passion for preserving historical details, a keen design/artistic sense, and an insistence on high-quality materials with no cutting corners.

The beauty and casual elegance of the house greatly enhanced our experience with our friends.

The beneficiaries who stay in the house are ensconced in a warm environment with myriad thoughtful details and themes repeated throughout the home. Additionally, the unique 1868 structure is filled with magnificent artwork from local black artists, reflecting William Brisbane's championing of equal rights.

One of the wonderful aspects of Brisbane House is Sam's and Bruce's trust in their guests. For example, each bed is topped with beautiful quilts, some of which are family heirlooms. Although these quilts are plenty valuable, they're probably priceless to Sam and Bruce.

We were enthralled by features such as the beautiful kitchen table, the well-stocked kitchen with high quality utensils and dishware, the breezy screened porch, and the matching color schemes between the walls, artwork, and quilts.

Although we paid little attention to this amenity in the listing, some of us spent hours playing ping pong on the high quality table in the spacious garage.

Naomi K.

Brisbane House is just wonderful! After time spent studying abroad in France last year, I have a greater appreciation for all the valuable history, art, and architecture that went into the restoration of the house. Every detail is so thoughtfully selected that you could spend your entire stay just learning about the restoration process (which is quite remarkable) and William H. Brisbane himself! In terms of the actual building, I love the summer kitchen loft and the beautiful tile in the second floor bathroom. The rooms are clean, bright, and intentionally decorated with art and fun colors. There’s also a sitting area with a desk that was great for studying and working during my stay at the house. And I'd recommend braving the mosquitoes in the summer to explore outside—it's so peaceful and green.

This house is a labor of love and is totally worth a visit (or multiple). Thank you for sharing it, Sam and Bruce!!

Tamara A. E.

Arriving in the middle of a Wisconsin snowstorm, we found this fabulous stone house to be welcoming and warm. The road in was plowed for us, and we could put the cars in the large, well-sealed garage, where we found shovels to dig our path to the front door. (It was a big storm!) Despite the falling snow and high winds outside, inside all was warm and snug, with no drafts. The gas fireplace in the living room was an added bonus.

We were almost sad to see the snowplow arrive to clear the driveway the morning after the storm had passed.

Renovating and insulating a 150+ year-old house to withstand a Wisconsin blizzard is no small feat, but they achieved it at the Brisbane House. On top of that, Sam is an incredibly responsive host. We loved staying in this unique and beautiful historic home.
— Tamara Madison, WI

Ben B.

If you're looking for an artistically-remodeled house with beautiful scenery, all the amenities, and some incredible history, look no further than Brisbane House. Sam, Bruce, and friends have clearly put so much heart and soul into this historic restoration; you'll notice all of the thoughtful touches from the moment you arrive!

Becky R.

Such a cute place - a hidden gem!